1736 Vatican Bronze Medal Pope Clement XII AN VI Trevi Fountain Construction AU
Description: A beautiful and rather scarce bronze medal issued by the Vatican to celebrate the construction of the Trevi Fountain. This is a papal state bronze medal showing the bust Pope Clement XII (Pope in the period 1730-1740) bust facing right on the obverse with the legend "CLEMENS XII.P:M:A.VI" surrounding it along the edge of the obverse. The reverse shows the Trevi Fountain with the legend "FONTE.AQVE.VIRGINIS.ORNATO." on top of the structure along the edge. The reverse also has the date MDCCXXXVI in exergue. A beautiful early restrike papal medal. The medal is nicely toned in a nice brown color with very nice eye appeal. The edge of the medal is unmarked and shows filling marks. A nice-looking medal, which would make a worthy addition to any collection. Please carefully review the photos as they are part and parcel of our description.
Additional Information: The Trevi Fountain was constructed by Clement XII after several earlier popes had tried and failed. In 1732 Clement XII chose Nicola Salvi to design and build the fountain. The water was not turned in till May 1745 and the sculptures was completed in 1762. Neither Clement XII nor Salvi were alive to see the fountain fully functional. Clemet XII died in 1740 and Salvi died in 1751. Although this medal was struck 26 years before the fountain was completed, the fountain looks very much like the one shown on the medal.
Date: The medal is dated 1736.
Origin: Vatican City.
Artist: Otto Hamerani.
Weight and Size: The medal weighs ~22.5 grams and is ~38.5 millimeters in diameter.
Mint: Rome.
Marks: There is the letter O in the bottom of the exergue on the reverse followed by casting roughness most likely obliterating the letter H .
Reference: Lincoln 1795 and is listed in Mazio as 446.
Condition: The medal is in what I would characterize as about uncirculated condition with nice brown toning. The medal shows minimum wear with some scratching and surface markings on both sides. The edge of the medal is plain with minimum dings and roughness. The obverse has a line under the VI suggesting onset of a die crack, as well as a few die lines along the raised rim. These are all artifact of the making and original to the medal. A nice historical medal commemorating a major structure in Rome Italy, which would make a great addition to your collection. Please view photos for additional condition information and to appreciate the beauty of the piece.
